The nylon-and-cotton (referred to as NYCO) uniforms worn by sailors on ships and at bases “will burn robustly,” and turn into a “sticky molten material,” according to a test conducted in October by the Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility.

“It will melt and burn to consumption,” Rear Adm. John Kirby, chief of information, said in a statement.

There have been no uniform requirement changes made after the finding.Navy officials said they are committed to sailor safety. “Where there is a need, fire retardant/flame resistant clothing is provided,” Kirby said.

Under the textile flame resistance test, the uniform cloth was subjected to a flame for 12 seconds. Marine and Army uniforms made of rayon, para-aramid and nylon fibers were also tested, but only the Navy uniforms melted and were consumed by the flame, according to a report on the tests.

“If this sticky molten material came in contact with skin it would contribute to increased burn injury due to conductive energy transfer,” the report concluded. “The use of the NYCO material in an environment where there is potential for a flame or thermal threat is not recommended.”

Sailors on ships are regularly exposed to the threat of fire, especially those working with or near planes or engines.

The Navy removed its requirement that all uniforms be flame-resistant in 1996.

DOUBLE DUH! That is crazy. Insane really. Thank God the Army fields flame resistant ACU’s. After dealing with horrific burns sustained from IED’s in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Army got busy and came out with better, materiel for soldiers. In addition, Army pilots, crew chiefs, and door gunners wear even better A2CU flight suits that are superior to the standard issue 2nd generation ACU’s. The flight suits have metal zippers instead of plastic, which melts and sticks to the skin. Being a 20 level 92 Foxtrot, Petroleum Supply Specialist, I have been issued a total of 10 pair of flight suits due to the fire hazards of my job, refueling rotary winged aircraft, quite frequently “hot refuels,” which are under tactical conditions with the helicopters on the pad, fully fired up with rotorblades a spinning. This creates a massive amount of static and the aircraft must be grounded with the fuel nozzle bonded to the aircraft. When this is done at night, it is done in low light conditions. We generally use green chem lights so as not to blind the aircrew, who are using night vision goggles. In dry conditions at night, especially in the deserts of the Middle East and Afghanistan, one can clearly see the static sparks on the rotor blades as they spin. It’s an awesome sight to behold, but a reminder of the potential dangers involved.